The Việt Nam Music Copyright Protection Centre attracts nearly 5,000 members nationwide and has signed more than 1,700 contracts with music producers and entertainment companies. — Photo courtesy of the HCM City Musicians’ Association

HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Music Copyright Protection Centre last year collected VNĐ150 billion (US$6.4 million) in royalties for registered composers and songwriters, an increase of 12 per cent over 2019.  

The centre collected VNĐ102 billion ($4.3 million) in royalties in the south while the number was VNĐ47.5 billion ($2.1 million) in the north. 

According to the centre’s director Đinh Trung Cẩn, facing the Covid-19 pandemic, the amount increased as royalties were collected from the use of online MVs and CDs, and music websites in 2020. 

"We are seeing the rapid growth of online music in Việt Nam,” he said. “More than VNĐ3.6 billion ($140,000) came from the use of Vietnamese music overseas in 2020, an increase of 82 per cent compared to 2019.” 

“The results came from our working with foreign counterparts in recent years, including new partners such as SAZAS of Slovenis, STEF of Ireland, SAYCE of Ecuador, BSCAP of Belize, RSAU of Rwanda and UNISON of Spain."

Many young composers and singers work with the Việt Nam Music Copyright Protection Centre to protect their rights. — Photo courtesy of the HCM City Musicians’ Association

The centre, Việt Nam’s first organisation to protect songwriters and composers from copyright infringement, has attracted nearly 5,000 members nationwide and has signed more than 1,700 contracts with music producers and entertainment companies. 

It has also collected and paid royalties to nearly 3 million foreign citizens and foreign organisations through its foreign counterparts. 

After the centre became a member of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers in 2007, Vietnamese artists were covered by copyright protection when their work was performed or recorded abroad. 

Foreign musical products used in Việt Nam are given the same protection as domestically produced work. 

The centre updates information about authors and their works regularly on CIS-Net (a network of databases provided by CISAC) and MIS-Asia (copyright alert system) according to international standards. This allows copyright organisations worldwide to search for information about Vietnamese authors and musical works. 

The centre has also established a network of representatives in cities and districts throughout the country who directly manage licenses and collect royalties. 

Cẩn said he believed the local industry would develop more professionally in the next few years due to the fast development of digital music companies and online music sites. — VNS